Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie Definition: Sausages, ham, pâtés, and other cooked or processed meat foods.

 Charcuterie is making a comeback.  What is a Charcuterie Board you ask? I certainly did, after a party which the name was thrown out there concerning what I thought was just appetizers.  One of the apparently more knowledgeable guests said, "great Charcuterie, the meats were delicious".  Wait, what did he say?  I looked at my husband, who was nodding his head and seemed to know exactly what he was talking about, well everyone did.   In the car, I asked HH, "What did he call the appetizers?" to which he replied, "charcuterie, it is a sampling of cured/deli meats, sausages, patés, mustard,olives, pickles crackers and french bread".  Notice there is no cheese, there is a cheese board for that, duh.  Note:  there are no exact rules to what you can put on your board, cheese, of course, actually enhances the board in my opinion.  Well, you learn something everyday!

The one thing I hate about So. Cal. is that it is so cookie cutter.  All the same stores everywhere you go.   This is why I go gaga when I visit places like Pikes Farmers Market in Seattle; variety, uniqueness and great tastes abound. The mom and pop store has a hard time surviving here and in this economy, they are closing like crazy.  Sad.  I'm on the hunt for an authentic Italian deli.  I've been given a few names and I can't wait to try it out.  Currently, it seems the only deli meats you can get at any of the grocery stores, is Boars Head.  They've taken over.  I loved Kreushmar's (sp) oven roasted turkey, but it seems to have disappeared from all the deli cases. (It also doesn't help me that the 3 closest grocery stores are all Ralph's.)  Anyway, back to the cured meats.  Salumi is Italian for charcuterie, salt curing and air-drying meats and sausages and its these Italian "cold cuts" that I'm looking for.

Here are some Itallian cold cuts ideas:
Italian Speck
Salami Agrumi
Proscuitto Parma
Pepperoni
Napoli Sausage
Click here for a more detail list of Italian Cured Meats and their flavors.
It's also good to add:
Olives, grapes, oven roasted tomatoes, sweet pickles, mustard (various kinds) and patés or spreads.  I'm not a huge fan of paté, but you never know. 

You can make it simple. 

You can make it more complex or festive.  The thing is, put on the things you enjoy and try a new meat, sausage, olive, paté, etc. to keep it exciting and widen you knowledge of salumi each time.   I'm looking forward to exploring a cheese board next. Enjoy!